Here are 15 ways to teach counting skills in Pre-K.
Making Sets
Use index cards for small counting mats. Children count out sets onto each index card. (In this photo, children were counting sets of 2.)
Junk Box Counting
I used dry erase boards as a counting “mat” for children to place their counters on. I wrote a numeral on each child’s dry erase board, then had them identify the numeral, and count out that amount of counters on their board. After I checked their work, they could erase the number and I wrote a new number on their board. Each child was able to work at their own pace and at their own level of ability. Some children were working on numbers 1-5 while others were counting beyond 10.
A variety of interesting materials can be collected for math counters. Some ideas are plastic lizards or bugs from the dollar store, plastic jewels, small foamie shapes, keys, seashells.
Dotted Cards
Dotted cards are made with index cards and colored dot stickers. I made a card for each number 1-10, with the numeral written beside the dots. Children count aloud verbally as they place each math counter on each dot. They use these when they are beginning to learn counting to help them place the correct amount of math counters on the card. Download printable dot cards.
Fruit Counting
I put sticker dots on disposable plastic plates and covered the middle with clear contact paper. Each plate has a different amount of dots. Children count the dots on the plate, say the number, then count out that amount of fruit to place on the plate. Any type of counters can be used if fruit counters are not available. These are similar to the dotted cards above, except that I did not write the numeral beside the dots because in this game, the objective was counting and one-to-one correspondence only, rather than identifying the numeral.
Path Games
Children roll a game die and count the amount of spaces to move their game piece. Path games can be designed to accomodate different skill levels in the same way as the grid games.
Count and Match Games
I made this set with posterboard, car stickers, and clear contact paper. There are two cards representing each number. The children count the cars on each card, and match the cards that have the same amount of cars. I made sure to place the stickers in different arrangements so that they wouldn’t appear the same at first glance (they have to actually count them).
Dominoes
Children count and match the amount of dots on the dominoes.
Play Dough Stamps
Children press a number stamp in the play dough and count out that amount of marbles to press in the play dough. (These Play Dough Stamps came from Lakeshore.)
Drawing Numbered Sets
Children draw simple pictures (rainbows, flowers, suns, balloons, stick people, etc.) to represent the number. For example, for the number 3, they might draw 3 suns.
Fish Tumble
Children use numeral identification skills and counting skills to put the numeral fish in order on the blue felt (the pond). I made these by writing numbers on foam fish from the craft store (you can use any type of foam shape).
Ladybug Game
This game has 2 levels. On one side of the sticks, a numeral is written with the corresponding amount of ladybugs stamped on the sticks. Children identify the numeral, then place each ladybug counter on a ladybug on the stick while counting aloud. The flip side of the stick has the numeral written on it, but is not stamped. More advanced children can use the unstamped side, then self-check their answer by checking the reverse side.
Counting Airplanes
Each month, we kept track of how many airplanes flew over our playground while we were outside. Whenever the children saw airplanes outside, we would keep a count in our heads (usually no more than 3 flew over). Then when we went inside, we would add that many airplanes to our chart. The children were often spotted at the chart counting how many we had seen so far.
Number Book
The photo shows a spider counting book we made. The children identified the numeral then stamped that amount of circles on the page with a bingo marker. They drew the legs and eyes with a pencil. I always make sure the children are comfortable counting with manipulatives before doing a number book so that they won’t get frustrated trying to make the book without mistakes.
Mystery Socks
Children work with a partner to play this game. They will need one sock and 5 flat floral marbles (the flat marbles work great for math manipulatives because they won’t roll away). One child places an amount of marbles into the sock. The other child reaches into the sock without peeking, counts the marbles by feeling them, and says the number. The children can then take the marbles out of the sock to see if the answer was correct.
Jewel Strings
Jewel strings are strings of colored plastic jewels that are cut into segments with 1 jewel per string, 2 jewels per string, 3 jewels per string, and so on (through 10). Each child needs one set of jewel strings with jewels 1-10, and a set of numeral cards 1-10. The children take one jewel string at a time from their container, count the jewels on the string, and match it to the correct numeral card.
Find more ways to Teaching Counting here.